Flora

Plants at the Marrambidya Wetland

The plants that call the Marrambidya Wetland home are all part of a complex system. Plants provide food and shelter for animals and also play a vital role in improving water quality as they offer a natural filtration service.

Terrestrial Plants

Terrestrial plants are those plant species that grow on land. The dominant plant species at the Marrambidya Wetland is the River Red Gum which is the most common species of Eucalypt along the watercourses around Australia. These great trees are iconic to the Australian landscape and can reach heights of 30 metres tall.

As the River Red Gum ages and limbs fall from the tree over time or if the tree is impacted by disease, hollows in the branches develop. These hollows provide vital habitat for our native animal species including the locally threatened Superb Parrot and Squirrel Glider. Other tenants of these trees in the Marrambidya Wetland include Cockatoos, Galahs and Superb Parrots.

When visiting the Marrambidya Wetland you may spy a few nesting boxes hidden amongst the limbs of the River Red Gums. These nest boxes provide additional homes for the native birds and mammals we want to attract to this site.

Some of the terrestrial plant species you may see at the Marrambidya Wetland:

River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)

She-oaks (Allocasuarina)

Spiney-headed Mat-rush (Lomandra longifolia)

Spreading Flax-lily (Dianella revoluta)

Purple Coral Pea (Hardenbergia violacea)

Aquatic Plants

Aquatic plants are those plant species that grow in water or at the waters edge. Aquatic plants play an important role in maintaining good water quality as they take up any nutrients in the water to use for plant growth. Excessive nutrients in the water may lead to algal blooms. Water plants also provide habitat and food sources for aquatic animals and invertebrates.

As you wander the site you may spot some floating reed beds in ponds 2 and 3. The reed beds are designed to allow the plant roots to grow deep in to
the water to physically filter and remove algae-causing nutrients such
as nitrogen and phosphorous.

Floating reed bed at the Marrambidya Wetland

Some of the aquatic plant species you may see at the Marrambidya Wetland:

Knob Sedge (Carex inversa)

Rush (Juncus subsecundus)

Common Reed (Phragmites australis)

Weeds Species

Unfortunately some unwanted weeds also call the Marrambidya Wetland home. Weed management was important aspect of the conversion of the site from sewage treatment ponds to the wetland.

Ongoing maintenance and involvement from groups such as the Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare Group will help minimise the impact of weeds on the Wetland. Residents and visitors can minimise the spread of weeds by: